Bicycle frame



April 4, 1939. H. H. HENRY 2,153,249

BICYCLE FRAME Filed. Jan. 11, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 4, 1939. H. H ENRY 2,153,249

B ICYCLE FRAME Filed Jan. 11, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet -2 April 4, 1939.

Filed Jan. 11, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE morons FRAME poration of Illinois Application January 11, 1937, Serial No. 120,087

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a bicycle frame or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a bicycle frame which is very strong and able to withstand the repeated shocks which come during long and hard usage.

A specific object is toprovide a bicycle frame in which the number of joints between connecting members and casting members is greatly reduced and in which the necessary joints are formed by novel and improved structure.

A further object is to provide a frame construction which is simple and easily made, and which is pleasing in appearance.

It has always been customary construction to form the head, hanger, and cluster members of separate castings, and to join these castings by tubes. The joints between the members and. the tubes have always been a source of trouble in that they make points of weaknessand also tend to work loose. I overcome such .difliculties by uniting the members in a single casting piece of which the head member is an integral part.

Details of my construction are more clearly seen by reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a bicycle frame embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the'top casting, the section being taken as indicated at line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a view in side elevation of a modified form of the invention; Fig. .5, a sectional view of the casting shown in Fig. 4, the section being taken as indicated at line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a side elevational view of a second modified form of the invention; Fig. 7, a detail sectional view of the cluster member shown in Fig. v6, and showing the joint between thismember and a connecting tube; Fig. 8, a detail view of the hanger member shown in Fig. 6, and showing the joints between this member and connecting tubes; and Fig. 9, a detail sectional view of the head member shown in Fig. 6, and showing the joints between this member and the connecting tube.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, A designates a top casting; B, a hanger casting; and C, connecting tubes which are attached to castings A and B.

The top casting A comprises a single casting of duraluminum or other suitable aluminum alloy. Other metals may be used, but I prefer the use of aluminum alloy castings because of ,their strength and lightness of weight; It is highly essential that the castings be light in weight, and

the availability of aluminum alloy castings makes my invention of much greater practical value.

At its forward end casting A provides a head member having a tubular portion H in which the front fork I2 is rotaitably secured. An extension [3 protrudes from the lower portion of the forward end and is adapted to receive and hold the front tube l4.

At its rear end casting A provides a cluster member l which includes a slight upper extension l6 adapted to receive a seat post, and a slight lower extension I! which is adapted to receive and secure the tube I8. On its rear side cluster portion l5 provides a vertical slot l9, and in this slot the forward end of the supporting fork 20 is attached. The extreme end of fork 20 is of flattened form enabling it to fit within the walls of slot 19. A bolt 2,! extends through the walls of slot I9 and secures fork 26 to casting A.

The central portion 22 of casting A may be hollow and of a cross sectional form more clearly shown in Fig. 3. This portion may have a uniform width but preferably has a relatively great depth near the forward end with its depth diminishing toward the rearward end. It is also preferable that the portion 22 contain the inwardly formed ridges 23 which tend to reinforce the casting. The ridges 23 may be in a regular and artistic pattern such as illustrated in the drawings. This lends a pleasing appearance as well as increased strength. 7

The hanger casting B includes the hanger member 24 and the rearwardly extending fork 25, and is preferably formed of duraluminum or other suitable aluminum alloy. The casting B provides a central bearing 25 for the axle drive and is equipped with upwardly extending tubular parts 21 and 28. Tube M, which is secured to head member Ill, is securely held within tubular part 21, and tube l8, which issecured to cluster member 15, is securely held within tubular part 28. The rearwardly extending fork 25, which is cast integral with the hanger member 24, is bifurcated at 29 and has the supporting heads 3d at its rearward extremity.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, thecasting member A is preferably formed of aluminum alloy for the same reasons as stated in .connection withjcasting A of the preferred form. The head member 32 at the forward end of casting A includes a tubular portion 33 which accommodates the front fork 34. As shown more clearly by Fig. 5, the top and bottom edgesof casting A are formed into tubular portions indicated by characters 35 which are integral with .the vertical center portion 36. Such a structure not only lends strength but lends a pleasing appearance as well.

Casting A provides the hanger member B which has bearing 31' adapted to accommodate the crank and is equipped with the hollow extension 33 which receives and secures tube 39. The rear fork 4i extends rearwardly from hanger member B and may be cast integrally therewith, or, if desired, the fork 4! may be secured to member B by a joint similar to that used'to connect tube 66 with member d9. The cluster member it is a part of casting 33 which is forked at its rear portion and attached to the rear ends of fork 4 I.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, the top casting A" is similar to casting A of the form first described and includes head member and cluster member 46 at front and rear ends of the casting respectively. The central portion of the casting may be hollow and of any desired form.

Tube member 4! is connected at its one end to hanger member 49 and at its other end to cluster member it and the form of the connection here employed is one of the features of this invention.

By reference to Fig. '7 of the drawings, it will be seen that the lower extension 56 of cluster member 46 has a wall extending across its hollow interior. An opening 52 in wall 5! allows the bolt 53 to be received through this wall. Hollow tube l'lis provided at its upper end with the solid tube extension 5% of reduced diameter and having the tapped hole 55 in its end.

In the assembly of the joint, tube extension 54 is inserted up into the hollow of cluster extension 54 in telescopic manner to produce a snug fit. The lower edge of cluster extension 54 abuts against shoulder 56 of the tube as the extreme end of tube extension 5 approaches wall 5| so that a small space 5'! is left between the tube and wall 5!. Bolt 53 equipped with lock washer 58 is inserted through the top opening 54 and is screwed into tapped hole 55 in tube 41. When bolt 53 is tightened, the lower edge of cluster extension 50 is brought tight against shoulder 56 of the tube, and the exterior of the tube is flush with the exterior of the cluster extension.

The lower end of hollow tube 4'! is provided with a reduced extension 59 similar to extension 5d at its top and is adapted to fit within tubular extension iii! of the hanger member 49. On the interior of hanger member 35 is a recess 6! the bottom of Which is one side of wall 62 which has opening 63 for receiving bolt (54. Diametrically opposite recess 6| is an opening 85 to allow access for screwing bolt G l into the end of tube 4?.

The rear fork 65 is joined to the cluster member in the same manner as just described, and cluster member 49 is provided with opening 6"! to allow access in tightening the joint. If desired a cover 68 may be attached in any suitable manner to cover openings G! and 65.

The cluster member 59 and tube 48 may be formed in a single casting. At its forward end tube 48 is joined with the head member d5 by structure similar to that described in connection with tube 4?, the opening t9 being provided to allow access for inserting the bolt and tightening. If desired a cover may be attached in any suitable manner to close opening 69.

In this embodiment cluster member 46 has on its rear side an apertured ear H which is engaged by the split end of top fork l2, and bolt 13 is used to secure fork 12 with member 46. At its rear end fork 12 is pivotally attached to the rear ends of fork 66.

The type of joint described in connection with this second modification has been found to be a very strong one and capable of withstanding the shocks to which a bicycle frame is subjected. Another advantage lies in the fact that all joints are flush and a pleasing appearance is presented.

In each of the forms described the frame is constructed with fewer joints than is possible in ordinary construction, a feature which makes this frame stronger and more able to resist the continued shocks to which such a frame is subjected. The hollow castings of aluminum alloy make strong members which are light in weight and at the same time lend the appearance of sturdy and massive construction.

While in the above description I have described specific structures, it will be understood that many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of my invention. The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members two of said members being portions of a single casting.

2. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, two of said members including said head member being portions of a single hollow casting, said head member being the forward end of said casting.

3. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, said head and cluster members being the end portions of a single casting, and tubes connecting said hanger member with said head and cluster members.

4. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, said head and cluster members being the end portions of a single hollow casting, said casting containing portions of inwardly ridged metal, and tubes connecting said hanger member with said head and cluster members.

5. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, means for connecting said members, said cluster member having a slotted rear portion, and a supporting fork having its end within said slot and attached to said cluster member.

6. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, said head and hanger members being portions of a single casting, said head member being the forward end of said casting.

7. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, said head and hanger members being portions of a single hollow casting of aluminum alloy, and a tube connecting said hanger member with said cluster member.

8. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster and head members, said head and cluster members being the end portions of a single hollow casting of aluminum alloy, and tubes connecting said hanger member with said cluster and head members.

9. A bicycle'frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, means for connecting said members, said cluster member having a slotted rear portion, a supporting fork having its end flattened and received within said slot, and a pin sis" extending through the walls of said slot and pivotally securing said fork to said cluster member.

10. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, said head and cluster members being the end portions of a single hollow casting of aluminum alloy, said casting being reinforced by inwardly formed ridges, said cluster memberhaving a slotted portion, a supporting fork having its end received within said slot, a pin through the walls of said slot to secure said fork to said cluster member, and tubes connecting said hanger member with said cluster and head members.

11. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, said members being hollow, and tubes connecting said members, said tubes having their ends telescoped into said members and secured by bolts extending through the walls of said members and into the ends of said tubes.

12. A bicycle frame comprising hanger, cluster, and head members, two of said members including said head member being portions of a single hollow casting, and a tube connecting said cluster and hanger members, said tube having its ends telescoped into said cluster and hanger members and secured by bolts extending through the walls of said hanger and cluster members and into the ends of said tube.

13. In a bicycle frame of the character set forth, hanger, head, and cluster members, and tubes connecting said head and cluster members with said hanger members, each of said members having a tubular extension of the same outside diameter as the body portion of said tubes, the end portions of said tubes being of reduced diameter and received within said tubular extension, the ends of said tubular extensions being flush with the outer surface of said tubes, and bolts extending through the walls of said members and into the ends of said tubes for securing said tubes in position.

14. In a bicycle frame of the character set forth, head, hanger and cluster members, each of said members being hollow and equipped with a tubular extension and having an opening through its wall opposite said tubular extension, tubes connecting said members and having their ends received within said tubular extensions said tubes being secured by bolts extending through a wall of said members and into the ends of said tubes.

15. In a bicycle frame of the character set forth, head, hanger, and cluster members, each of said members being equipped with an extension having a cylindrical recess opening at its end, tubes of the same outside diameter as said extension and having reduced end extensions, said end extensions being shorter than said cylindrical recesses, and bolts extending through a well of said members and into said end extension, said bolts being effective to draw said tubes against the ends of said extensions.

HARRY H. HENRY. 

